Pre-packaged pet food products sold in Hong Kong were mainly imported from the US, Canada, the EU member states, Thailand and the Mainland. With 415,100 dogs and cats kept as pets in Hong Kong in 2010 (according to the latest available figures from the Census and Statistics Department), we still have no dedicated legislation regulating the safety of pet food products sold. Currently, pet food products are regulated by general legislation only e.g. the Trade Description Ordinance (Cap. 362) which prohibits any person from applying false or misleading trade descriptions as to composition, and place of origin, to goods in the course of trade or business.

Not many studies or testing have been done except in 2014 Consumer Council collected and tested 39 dry food brands, and in 2015 study on raw and undercooked pet food (salmonella was found in three frozen products out of 17 samples, However, the related brands and the way samples were collected, stored and tested were not disclosed in press release).

With the US as our largest pet food importer, according to U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA), these are the pet-related food which were recalled in 2017 either voluntarily by the food manufacturer or by FDA request.

Product: Rawhide chew products Brand name: Companion, Dentley’s, American Beefhide, Digest-eeze, and Healthy Hide (including Healthy Hide – Good -n- Fun and Healthy Hide – Good -n- Fit) and more. Full list of affected products is shown as logos here. Company: United Pet Group Reason: possible chemical contamination Date: 06/16/2017 and 06/10/2017

Product: Dog treats Brand name: Loving Pets Barksters™, Loving Pets Puffsters™ Snack Chips, Whole Hearted™ Company: Loving Pets Reason: Salmonella contamination Date: 06/14/2017

Product: Dog and cat food Brand name: Smallbatch Company: Smallbatch Pets Inc. Reason: Salmonella contamination Date: 05/05/2017

Product: Beef & turkey canned dog food, chicken & beef canned dog food Brand name: Cocolicious Company: Party Animal Reason: Presence of pentobarbital Date: 04/24/2017

Product: Pig ears (dog treats) Brand name: Barnsdale Farms®, HoundsTooth® and Mac’s Choice® Company: EuroCan Manufacturing Reason: Salmonella contamination Date: 03/20/2017

Product: Canned dog food Brand name: BLUE Wilderness® Rocky Mountain Recipe Red Meat Dinner Wet Food Company: Blue Buffalo Reason: Contains beef thyroid hormone Date: 03/17/2017

Product: Canned dog food Brand name: Wellness 95% Beef Topper for Dogs – 13.2 oz Company: WellPet Reason: Contains beef thyroid hormone Date: 03/17/2017

Product: Dog and cat food Brand name: Evanger’s: Hunk of Beef, Evanger’s: Braised Beef, Against the Grain: Pulled Beef Company: Evanger’s Reason: Pentobarbital Date: 02/03/2017 and 02/14/2017 and 03/03/2017

Product: Dog food Brand name: Grreat Choice Adult Dog Food with Chicken & Rice Company: PetSmart Reason: Contains metal pieces Date: 02/09/2017

Product: Dog and cat food Brand name: Blue Ridge Beef Company: Blue Ridge Beef Reason: Listeria monocytogenes contamination Date: 02/09/2017

Product: Canned cat food Brand name: 9Lives, Speacial Kitty, EverPet Company: J.M. Smucker Reason: Possible low levels of thiamine (Vitamin B1) Date: 02/09/2017

Source: Research Office Legislative Council Secretariat (HK): Information note on regulation of pet food in selected overseas place IN02/15-16 U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) Consumer Council Press Release (15 October 2015) South China Morning Post (Consumer Council 2014 study)

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